According to Nivo News, the Federal Government has initiated fresh steps to revive the long-stalled National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI) through a strategic collaboration between the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF) and the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The agreement was sealed in Abuja during a meeting between the Surveyor General of the Federation, Surv. Abdulganiyu Adebomehin Adeyemi, and the Executive Director of NIWRMC, Engr. Abdulmumin Mohammed Zaria.

Adebomehin emphasized that OSGOF possesses vast technical capacity and datasets that have not been fully leveraged for national development. He disclosed that the office maintains hydrographic data, advanced mapping technologies, and a network of Continuously Operating Reference (COR) stations across the country, which could enhance planning and risk management if properly integrated and shared.

He further noted that Nigeria must invest significantly in manpower development, modern software, and cloud-based storage infrastructure to manage its growing volume of spatial data. “Some data can no longer be handled by ordinary computers; they require secure cloud facilities,” he explained.

The Surveyor General described the revival of NGDI as a national priority, stressing that ministries, departments, and agencies need to harmonize their data to provide solutions to pressing challenges such as flood management, infrastructure planning, and social services mapping.

On his part, Engr. Zaria reaffirmed NIWRMC’s commitment to the partnership, describing OSGOF as a vital ally in promoting effective water governance. He observed that inadequate data sharing has hindered water management efforts, particularly in trans-boundary regions. “Water is a finite resource, and accurate data is key to its sustainable use,” he stated.

Zaria added that the renewed collaboration would focus on mapping water infrastructure, developing geo-forensic tools for monitoring compliance, and deploying digital-twin mapping to support future water planning.

He also highlighted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which seeks greater synergy among government agencies.

Both agencies agreed to form a joint technical working group and sign a formal memorandum of understanding to guide the partnership. Officials at the meeting confirmed that pilot projects would begin in selected river basins to demonstrate how shared geospatial data can improve water allocation, reduce conflicts, and enhance disaster response mechanisms.